Award-winning chefs’ fundraiser is icing on the cake for RAF charity

Three chefs who were crowned the Crème de la Crème by the BBC earlier this year have helped to raise a sweet total for the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity.

The trio, led by 30-year-old Corporal Liam Grime, created 1,150 desserts and an incredible chocolate centrepiece which featured the Fund’s roundel logo. A selection of 11 different sweets including entremets, macarons, tropical flavours, chocolate and crumbles were sold at RAF Odiham’s Families Day last Thursday (24 August) to raise £860.

Liam said: “It’s really important for us to support the RAF Benevolent Fund, because they’re making a better life for all of us. We wanted to fundraise so they can continue in that work, helping the whole RAF Family.

Cpls Liam Grime and Chris Morrell

“I see the difference they make here day-to-day on station and I know they are investing their time, money and effort in us. For example they’ve helped to fund new gym facilities on station, something I’ll use a lot.”

Liam and his team, Cpl Chris Morrell and Cpl Nick Fryer, produced the mouth-watering display in their own time, working a full day and then spending up to five hours in the kitchen for the charity. The chocolate centrepiece in particular was the culmination of seven days’ work, containing 15 kilograms of dark chocolate! The finished masterpiece had to be assembled on site, on the edge of the airfield due to its delicate nature – a far cry from Welbeck Abbey the setting for the Great British Bake Off’s Crème de la Crème series.

The colourful display of delicious desserts attracted quick sales, with one sharer dessert being sold for £40 (four times its original price) when an impromptu bidding war began. The chefs were even asked to bake one visitor’s wedding cake next year!

Paul Hewson, Regional Director at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “I’m not surprised Liam’s cakes sold out – they were spectacular! It is incredible supporters like Liam, Chris and Nick who help to ensure the vital work the Fund does, supporting retired and serving personnel, is able to continue.”

And Liam, Chris and Nick are certainly not resting on their laurels, they are currently practising for two international competitions next year; the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg and Hotel Olympia in London where they aim to defend their title won two years ago.

RAF Benevolent Fund: The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity. We exist to support current and former members of the RAF, their partners and dependants, whenever they need us. In 2016 we spent £17.6m supporting more than 65,000 member of the RAF Family. For more information visit: www.rafbf.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/RAFBF